Outback Communication

Travelling in isolated locations doesn’t necessarily mean you’re isolated. There are several options for communicating in Outback Queensland, and it’s important to stay in touch in remote areas.

Thankfully there are easier ways of communicating than this display at the Quilpie Information Centre!

Mobile Coverage

Longreach, Mount Isa, Charleville and Birdsville have coverage from Telstra and Optus networks. Outside of these towns only the Telstra Next G network is available, usually within a 20km radius of towns. There is limited mobile phone coverage in the far South West corner of the region, west of Quilpie to Bedourie. Public phones are available in all towns, and satellite phones are recommended for extended travel in this area.

Satellite Phones

Sat phones connect to orbiting satellites rather than cell towers on the ground, giving access to communication in areas where there is no mobile coverage. There are a range of options available with varying degrees of performance versus cost, be sure to research the best option for your needs and your travel plans.

UHF

UHF CB is an abbreviation for Ultra High Frequency Citizen Band Radio, UHF CB Radio is freely available to all Australians and does not require a license or registration to use. Ensuring you can communicate from your vehicle to other vehicles in close proximity is essential for safety reasons (eg. warn oncoming vehicles when visibility is impaired), can aid in navigation (convoy procedures), and call to nearby travellers for help. Handheld or in-car UHFs are available, though radios have a limited range of around 5km to 20km and good reception is heavily dependent on terrain. Hilly or densely vegetated areas can reduce transmission considerably. Using this type of radio on a high hill or tower can also increase its range.
A handy list of properties and their UHF channels is included in the rear of the Atlas of QLD and NT Pastoral Stations, by Terrence Alick Mapping (http://alickmaps.com.au/).

UHF Radio Channel Allocation

Channel:

Frequency:

Use:

Channel 1

476.425

Duplex – Repeater Output

Channel 2

476.450

Duplex – Repeater Output

Channel 3

476.475

Duplex – Repeater Output

Channel 4

476.500

Duplex – Repeater Output

Channel 5

476.525

Duplex – Repeater Output – (Emergency use only)

Channel 6

476.550

Duplex – Repeater Output

Channel 7

476.575

Duplex – Repeater Output

Channel 8

476.600

Duplex – Repeater Output

Channel 9

476.625

Simplex Conversations

Channel 10

476.650

Simplex 4WD Drivers – Convoy, Clubs & National Parks

Channel 11

476.675

Simplex Call Channel

Channel 12

476.700

Simplex Conversations

Channel 13

476.725

Simplex Conversations

Channel 14

476.750

Simplex Conversations

Channel 15

476.775

Simplex Conversations

Channel 16

476.800

Simplex Conversations

Channel 17

476.825

Simplex Conversations

Channel 18

476.850

Simplex Caravan & Campers Convoy Channel

Channel 19

476.875

Simplex Conversations

Channel 20

476.900

Simplex Conversations

Channel 21

476.925

Simplex Conversations

Channel 22

476.950

Data Only (No Voice – No Packet)

Channel 23

476.975

Data Only (No Voice – No Packet)

Channel 24

477.000

Simplex Conversations

Channel 25

477.025

Simplex Conversations

Channel 26

477.050

Simplex Conversations

Channel 27

477.075

Simplex Conversations

Channel 28

477.100

Simplex Conversations

Channel 29

477.125

Simplex Pacific Hwy (NSW) & Bruce Hwy (Qld) Road Channel

Channel 30

477.150

Simplex UHF CB Broadcasts

Channel 31

477.175

Repeater Input

Channel 32

477.200

Repeater Input

Channel 33

477.225

Repeater Input

Channel 34

477.250

Repeater Input

Channel 35

477.275

Repeater Input (Emergency Use Only)

Channel 36

477.300

Repeater Input

Channel 37

477.325

Repeater Input

Channel 38

477.350

Repeater Input

Channel 39

477.375

Simplex Conversations

Channel 40

477.400

Simplex Highway Channel

Channels 1 to 8Repeater Channels Press the DUPLEX button on your radio to use any available repeaters.

Channel 5 & 35Emergency use only – Monitored by volunteers, by law no general conversations are to take place on this channel.

Channels 22 & 23Data transmissions only (Excluding Packet)

Channels 31 to 38Repeater inputs – These channels are received by a repeater and re-transmitted on channels 1 to 8 to help increase the communication distance.

The Australian Government has legislated that channels 5 & 35 on the UHF CB Band are reserved for emergency use only.